At what age should my child be seen by an orthodontist?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child be evaluated by age seven. Early detection of some orthodontic problems is important in order to take early corrective action and avoid more difficult treatment later. Most patients, however, are treated during adolescence between the ages of 10-12.

 

What is phase (early interceptive) treatment?

The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early in order to reduce it's severity. In most cases where early orthodontic treatment is recommended, the immediate treatment objective will be one of the following:

• To correct jaw disproportion before aligning teeth
• To prevent injury to protruded front teeth
• To manage crowding and prevent permanent tooth extraction whenever possible
• To eliminate damaging oral habits To improve the smile/self confidence

Does everyone need a phase I treatment?

Absolutely not! Only certain bites require early intervention. All others can, and should, wait until most or all their permanent teeth erupt.
Recent studies have shown that the results achieved by first phase treatment are no different than the results of second phase treatment.

 

If my child has early treatment, will additional treatment be necessary?

In most cases, yes. After the permanent teeth have erupted, treatment is usually necessary to complete the work that was started in the earlier phase.
The objective of continued treatment is to place the permanent teeth in positions of optimal function, comfort, aesthetics, and long-term stability.

 

What is the length or duration of phase I early treatment?

Typically, phase I early treatment takes 4 to 6 months, or longer depending on the age of the patient, the severity of the problem, the patient's cooperation, and the degree of movement required.

 

What is phase II treatment?

Phase II treatment usually occurs one or two years later and involves "full" braces. Usually, we are waiting for more permanent teeth to erupt before Phase II begins. This most commonly occurs at the age of 10 1/2-13. The goal of Phase II treatment is to achieve an ideal occlusion ("bite") with all of the permanent teeth.

 

Can adults wear braces?

As the profession has changed, so have the patients. A generation ago over 95% of all patients were children and teenagers. Today, adults make up over 30% of a successful orthodontist's practice.

The increase in adult patients is partially rooted in popular momentum; as more adults seek orthodontic treatment, others lose their hesitancy about wearing braces.

Add to this the new awareness of appearance in today's society (it's no longer "vain" to want to look good); the advent of aesthetic braces; and the availability of more convenient appointments and shortened treatment time.

 

What kind of orthodontic appliances are typically used?

Recent technological advances have boosted orthodontics from an intuitive proposition to a precise, technically sophisticated method of correcting tooth and jaw problems. Most progressive orthodontists now routinely use techniques such as:

• Minimetal braces - which are bonded to the front of the teeth.
• Clear braces - which eliminate the "tin grin" look.
• Removable appliances - which are used for less complicated treatment.
• Invisible braces - If you like the results but not the look of wearing braces, here is an answer. Researched and developed by a special national committee that included Dr. Chevangkul, invisible (lingual) braces are attached behind the teeth to straighten your smile in much the same way as conventional braces. Dr. Chevangkul is a leader in the use of these appliances and has successfully treated a large number of patients.
• Invisalign - An alternative to braces that is virtually undetectable using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances.

What will happen at the initial examination appointment?

Upon arriving at Denta-joy office each patient and parent will be greeted and asked to fill out a patient information paper that includes some personal information and a brief medical history.

Dr. Chevangkul will conduct a brief but thorough examination of the patient's mouth to determine if there is a need for orthodontic treatment.

He will be looking to determine if there is enough room to hold all of your teeth, if the top teeth are lined up correctly with the bottom teeth, if any teeth are crooked or not growing in the right position, and if there are missing or extra teeth.

He will also be asking the patient if they are experiencing any breathing problems, if they have had any finger or tongue habits, and if they have experienced any jaw joint problems.

 

How do braces work?

Braces include brackets, which are bonded directly to the tooth or sometimes attached to a band placed on a molar tooth, and arch wires that connect all the brackets. Unlike what most people think, it is the arch wire that does all the work-the brackets merely serve as handles!

The wires use a steady, gentle pressure to move teeth into their proper positions. Much like moving a stick through sand, as the tooth moves, bone gives way on one side and fills in on the other side.

It is truly amazing. Rubber bands are often worn to help the wires do their job and align the upper teeth with the lower teeth.

 

I am currently wearing braces - can I make the switch to Invisalign?

Doctors are treating patients with some form of combination of braces and Invisalign. We recommend that you consult your orthodontist or dentist to determine the best treatment for you.

 

Will wearing Invisalign effect my speech?

Similar to all orthodontic treatments, aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a short period of time. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp or minor speech impediment caused by the aligners should disappear upon familiarization. Depite the minor impediments, this is currently the orthodontic treatment that imposes the least speech impediments.

 

Do I need to see my family dentist while in braces?

Yes, regular check-ups with your family dentist are very important while in braces. Your family dentist will determine how often you should be seen for cleaning appointments while you are in braces.

 

Do you use recycled braces?

Absolutely not! It is our belief that each patient should be provided with their own braces to achieve the very best orthodontic result possible. Dr. Chevangkul would never use worn, used, or recycled braces.

 

What is an emergency appointment? How are those handled?

If something happens and your teeth , you should call our office at +66814999000. In most cases, we can address most issues over the telephone.

 

Why are retainers needed after orthodontic treatment?

After braces are removed, the teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes.

Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

 

Tooth loss: First aid

If your tooth is knocked out, get emergency dental care. It's sometimes possible to successfully reimplant permanent teeth that have been knocked out. But this is an option only if you follow the steps below immediately  before you see a dentist.

If your tooth is knocked out:

• Handle your tooth by the top only, not the roots.
• Don't rub it or scrape it to remove debris. This damages the root surface, making the tooth less likely to survive.
• Gently rinse your tooth in a bowl of tap water. Don't hold it under running water.
• Try to replace your tooth in the socket. If it doesn't go all the way into place, bite down gently on gauze or a moistened tea bag to help keep it in place. Hold the tooth in place until you see your dentist.
• If you can't replace your tooth in the socket, immediately place it in whole milk, your own saliva or a warm, mild saltwater solution  1/4 teaspoon salt to 1 quart water (1.2 milliliters salt to about 1 liter water).
• Get medical attention from a dentist or emergency room immediately.

If you participate in contact sports, you can often prevent tooth loss by wearing a mouth guard, fitted by your dentist.